Stanley Cup Champions

Congratulations are in order for the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning their third Stanley Cup in team history. It was a dramatic Game 7 victory for the young Penguins, holding off the defending champion Red Wings in Detroit by a 2-1 final score in the rematch of last year's final.

Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain to ever hoist and carry Lord Stanley's trophy at the age of 21 years . "The Next One" has begun to write his own history and follow in the path carved out by the greatest player of them all, Wayne Gretzky. Crosby had a tremendous playoff run throughout the playoffs and managed to stay in the final game despite suffering an injury sometime early in the contest. He only managed to play one shift in the third period, but you would have to break the player's legs in order to be taken out of a game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Despite the great show of leadership and skill throughout, it wasn't Sid The Kid that earned the coveted Conn Smythe award for most valuable player in the playoffs. That accolade would go to fellow first-round draft choice Evgeni Malkin who equalled Crosby in performance and helped carry the team through the grueling final match. Malkin finished with 14 goals and 22 assists to lead the playoffs and was as dominant with the puck as ever.

The Penguins had figured to be building a young, strong and talented team that would compete for championships for years to come. However, most probably never imagined this young team to achieve the main goal of winning a Cup so soon in their development. The team has now been to the last two Stanley Cup Finals, and in winning one of them with their four best players being no older than 24 years old, the rest of the National Hockey League has plenty to worry about for the next several years to come.

W.F.D.